WASHINGTON - A system developed by SRC Inc. that detects and defeats small, low-flying drones is continuing to pay big dividends for the company based in Syracuse's northern suburbs.

The U.S. Army says it has awarded a new $11 million contract to SRC to rapidly develop and deploy the electronic warfare system that protects soldiers from small drones that have increasingly been used on the battlefield by insurgents in Iraq and Syria.

The new order follows the Army's decision to select SRC of Cicero in February for a $65 million contract to develop 15 of the counter-drone systems after the Pentagon declared the equipment an urgent operational need.

The initial contract was one of the 10 largest in the history of SRC, helping to create at least 50 new engineering jobs when combined with other new business at the not-for-profit company.

SRC spokeswoman Lisa Mondello said the new contract is the result of upgrades and additional work the company will perform to test, develop and deploy the anti-drone system for the Army.

Mondello said SRC now has more than 75 job openings across the company, with about half of those in Central New York. The company employs 1,100 people nationwide, and 750 at its offices in five buildings in Syracuse's suburbs.

The Army selected SRC to deal with one of the emerging technological threats on the battlefield - low-flying small drones that are difficult to detect and can evade radar. The Islamic State deployed small drones in its recent battles with the Iraqi army and the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq and Syria.

An unclassified Army report in October noted the increasing threat posed by such unmanned aerial systems, with more than 600 types now in use in more than 80 countries.

In addition to the drone contract, the Pentagon said Monday that it was awarding a $13 million contract to SRC for circuit card assembly related to its CREW Duke system that protects soldiers on the battlefield.

The vehicle-mounted, lightweight system can neutralize remote-controlled improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, giving U.S. troops a tactical advantage. The new contract specifies that SRC must complete the work by Feb. 29, 2020.